Kévin Estre: “Thursday will be a real test”

After an almost perfect year and a half between a first victory in Sarthe in 2018 with Michael Christensen and Laurens Vanthoor, then success at the 24 Spa 2019 Hours, not to mention his world title WEC 2018-2019, Kévin Estre will address this 2020 edition of 24 Hours of Le Mans in a championship chaser position.

Second in the general classification in GTE Pro behind the Danish Train Marco Sorensen – Nicki Thiim, the recent father, still supported by Michael Christensen and Laurens Vanthoor on the No. 92, believes that the championship parameter could come into account in a race where, well often, only victory counts.

“Last year, Le Mans was the last race, rewinds the Lyonnais with us. We were at the top of the standings and the points awarded (37) were fewer. In 2020, we score double the points compared to a normal round (50) and it will remain Bahrain, where 37 points will be awarded.

The championship therefore still seems long. We will obviously do everything to win, and if at any point there is a risk to be taken in terms of strategy or piloting, that is where we will ask ourselves the question: "where are we, where are Others, is it worth it? »

At the wheel of a 911 version 2019 RSR which will make its debut in Sarthe, the Frenchman and his teammates will have to deal with an ultra-condensed program starting tomorrow on track with ten hours of driving, to get their hands on the new car.

“If we make a driving error, or encounter a mechanical problem, missing a session or more could be terrible, However, believes Estre. Thursday will be a real test because it is really important.

If you take the car out of the truck and it's not good, it can be difficult to have a good car for that race. The other years, we had Test Day, Wednesday runs, Thursday, and above all time to think.

For me, this will be the big challenge, especially for us because we have a new car while the others know their cars well. »